The role and multifaceted purpose of the work school

It's not just about the projects, but also about spending time together and socialising.

The Hafnarfjörður Summer Job Scheme offers young people in Hafnarfjörður, aged 14-17, a fun and educational summer job. The scheme is designed as a young person's first workplace, where they learn what it is like to be part of the labour market in a safe working environment. The work school is not just about the tasks and the work itself; it is also designed to foster the young people's social skills, help them maintain a routine over the summer, and reduce the risk of isolation by spending time with their peers. The working days are broken up with entertainment, educational activities, competitions for the best-cleaned areas, and a summer party as the summer progresses. 

Before and after photos 

1029 young people at work in a summer work school in the summer of 202022

1,029 young people started work at the Hafnarfjörður Youth Work Scheme on Monday, 13 June, and the groups are generally employed until 28 July. The number of hours allocated to young people is based on their age, ranging from 81 hours over the summer to 220 hours. The daily working hours also depend on age. The guideline is that 14-16 year-olds work three hours a day, four days a week, alternating between mornings and afternoons, or from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm. The working day for 17-year-olds is 6 hours a day, every weekday. The morning group works every day from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The main and visible projects of the work school

The main tasks for young people at the work experience programme involve street and neighbourhood cleaning, cleaning playgrounds and school grounds, as well as other ad hoc tasks. The work experience programme operates under an inclusive education policy, where an effort is made to cater to the different needs and interests of the students. Young people are also often sent on special projects, which include assisting at sports and play courses and in local institutions. Through their work, the staff of the work experience school beautify and improve the environment, whilst the pupils train in work practices that will benefit society in the future. 

Often their first experience of paid work

In most cases, this is the young people's first experience of paid employment. Like other staff, the Vinnuskólans staff are entitled to both meal and coffee breaks, which are often taken out in the field. It is therefore not unusual to see the young people sitting down to eat and rest. Every effort is made to provide a variety of tasks for the teenagers, as this helps to promote job satisfaction. The groups are spread out across various projects within the town, but the aim is to keep them no too far from their homes. A group leader is always with their group, and their role includes teaching the young people the correct techniques for the tasks they are doing, encouraging and empowering them, and being there if anything comes up. All supervisors for the City of Hafnarfjörður go through courses and training designed to empower and strengthen the staff, who are aged 18 and over, in leading and being there for a large group of young people. 

You can follow news about the work of the work school on the school's Facebook page here:  Hafnarfjörður Labour School | Facebook